A Substitute for Love

[James Dalton]

James sat by the warmth of the fire in an old English pub.
He had just come from France and another night of hiding in the shadows.
The crackling sound was soothing and though it may have been March this was England and so the weather was it's usual erratic self, regardless of the season. Rain was pouring from the sky, sending an enormous chill draft under the door of the tavern.
James did not turn his head but continued to gulp down the hot liquid named firewhiskey.

The tavern door creaked open; yet again, James did not turn his head but simply stared into the fire.
Someone had entered. James heard the barkeep speak behind him. "What'll it be?" he asked.
James listened for the voice of the other person to answer.

 

[Aaliyah Olaf]

Aaliyah had already given up on trying to fit in. She knew she was different.
She pushed open the door to the first pub she saw and was relieved to be hit with it's warmth.
Wandering up to the bar she simply asked for a firewhisky. Her hair was wet from the rain and was sticking to the sides of her face. She was leaning forward, but the hairs on the back of her neck made her turn round.

That's when she saw him. What she could only describe as...
She walked over to him, his eyes were following her. She couldn't imagine him being that much older than her, but then who knew around these parts.
She stood at the front of the guy's table. She didn't know why she was doing it, but drinking her firewhisky straight from the bottle, she continued to stare at him.

 

[James Dalton]

James looked up to the girl before him.
She was very beautiful, James had to admit but he felt no-one could ever equal the beauty of Antoinette.
"Lovely weather," James said sarcastically, gesturing to one of the tavern windows.
He gave the girl a weak smile as he drank more from his pint glass.
James was missing Antoinette. He felt nothing could fill that void Antoinette had been.
"I'm James." He said, offering the girl his hand.

 

[Aaliyah Olaf]

Aaliyah had no intention of making a new accomplice. She sat down at the table, and stared around her.
The smoke from the room waffted around and she could see beams of light from the windows passing through the pub.
"I'm Aaliyah" she said, not wanting to look him in the eyes again just yet. She didn't even realize she was shivering until now, and peeled off her wet jacket.
"Any reason you're on your own here?" she asked, wondering why she had felt it right to start talking to a dark stranger.

 

[James Dalton]

James smiled but shrugged.
"I'm just taking a break," he said, "from .. work." Naturally, he wasn't going to say that he was taking a break from stalking Antoinette; that wouldn't win him any points.
"And any reason why a lovely lady such as yourself should stray to such an.. Establishment?"
Yes, he had turned the question back on her but he had done it in what he hoped to be a friendly way.

 

[Aaliyah Olaf]

Aaliah stared at James, "I..just fancied..a change" she said slowly. She was fed up with what people thought of her now. "You have, no idea" she said, refering to what she'd already been through.
Their was an element of something sinister in his voice, but all Li wanted to do was embrace it. It made her wonder what her parents were like. "How long..are you staying here?" she asked, still staring at him.

 

[James Dalton]

"Indeed I don't." James replied to her statement before answering her question.
"Not long.. I've been many places as of late.. I just needed to get my head around a few things, that is all.."
And rather than returning the question as those in civilized conversation often did, James said something else.
"I would like to know what you've been through- what has caused you problems.. I've been told I'm a good listener."
A dark smile flickered across his face.

 

[Aaliyah Olaf]

Li stared at the man in front of her. "I.." she was going to start with her story, cutting it short. "I am so, alone." she said simply. It was true. Her whole life she'd had to look out for herself. "I've recently bought, a new house. A little way from here." she added, still staring at this stranger.

 

[James Dalton]

James stretched his hand out across the table to her. Not touching her but just showing he cared.
"I was brought up in a muggle children's home." James said with a little venom. He couldn't help it but he hated muggles with a passion.
"Just over a year ago I discovered that I am from a pureblood family and that I have a little brother and sister."
He did not exactly tell this to everyone. Aaliyah should have felt honored.